Track development newsPosted by Kate Sat, May 16, 2009 11:39:59Donington Park chief executive Simon Gillett has said the track's Formula One Grand Prix is "safe" even if it has to be postponed for a year.
Mr Gillett's company Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd is facing legal action over £2.47m unpaid rent to the track owners.
He also has to complete crucial paperwork by 30 June or planning permission for the track's £100m revamp could be revoked.
Mr Gillett has said he is confident he can overcome those obstacles.
'Prepared to wait'
"The Donington Grand Prix is safe," he told the BBC.
"That's the most important thing I want to get out to people, and people need to realise that Donington is the home of Formula One going forward.
"We're talking to all the right people about all the right things and it's moving on very positively.
"There was an announcement this week from Bernie [Ecclestone] that if we do have a problem he's prepared to wait a year rather than take it anywhere else.
"I've talked to a lot of local people, they want Donington to have the Grand Prix, and we're going to deliver that for them."
North West Leicestershire District Council has said a legal document, known as a section 106 agreement, needs to be signed by both Mr Gillett and Donington Park's owners ahead of the deadline.
Source:BBC
Event NewsPosted by Kate Sat, February 28, 2009 12:58:58Watch this uTube vid where Sebastian Vettel explains 2009 F1 rule changes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTkVKPdyWs0
Track development newsPosted by Kate Sat, February 28, 2009 12:37:28Donington Park dismantled their famous “Dunlop” tyre bridge last week in preparation for building work and expansion before the first F1 race there since 1993 in 2010.
The Leicestershire based circuit has had the bridge across the back straight next to the Donington Museum for years and it has become iconic with spectators and drivers alike.
However, it is sited upon the location for the new paddock and garages so has to go.
It is not being sold on, meerly put into storage and rumour has it that it will be utilised somewhere else around the circuit area, possibly across the entrance.
“We’re storing it, and then we’re going to decide where it is going to go,” Simon Gillett, track boss said.
“Maybe [we'll] change the ‘Dunlop’ to ‘Donington’ but in the same typeface. Part of the problem with the Dunlop Bridge is that MotoGP is Michelin, it’s Pirelli for World Superbikes, Bridgestone for F1, so commercially you can’t have it.
“There is the safety point of view because of the width of it, and also the location because the new pits and paddock are going there.
“So there are lots of reasons - it’s current location is wrong, it is not wide enough, and then there are the commercial reasons … we’d be constantly painting over the Dunlop. So it just couldn’t stay. But we’ll find a home for it. It won’t work over the track, but it will be somewhere nearby.”
SOURCE: F1FANATICSBLOG
Track development newsPosted by Kate Thu, January 08, 2009 18:31:36Motor racing fans all over the UK are celebrating as Donington Park gets the green light to make it into a world class Formula One venue.
Today the councillors and planners at North-West Leicestershire District Council agreed to the track proposals by Donington Ventures, in an important milestone in continuing the British Grand Prix.
Donington Park boss Simon Gillett told the Nottingham Post: "I am absolutely over the moon. It is a major coup. It is a culmination of six years' hard work."
Construction is set to start as soon as possible on the track improvements.
The development is subject to a number of conditions, including no more than 40 motor racing days per calendar year and the temporary grandstands only being erected during the summer.
Accommodation bookings are now available for the British Grand Prix 2010 on the Donington Hospitality website www.doningtonhospitality.com
Track development newsPosted by Kate Tue, January 06, 2009 16:43:11As Donington Racetrack awaits this Thursday's decision from North West Leics district council, a report in the Telegraph Newspaper indicates that all is set to give the green light for the development plans:
"Donington Park looks set to be awarded planning permission on Thursday to develop its racetrack ahead of the 2010 British Grand Prix.
After a lengthy consultation process, North West Leicestershire District Council will recommend proposals for the £100 million upgrade to bring it up to the standard required for Formula One racing.
Since the controversial announcement last July that the race would be leaving Silverstone, its exclusive home since 1987, there has been widespread speculation that Donington would either fail to get planning permission, run out of time to make the necessary alterations, or fall short of raising the required funding.
But Simon Gillett, the chief executive of Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, who have won the rights to host the race for a period of 10 years from 2010, is adamant there will be no hitches. He estimates it will take just five months to construct the new pits and paddock complex, which forms the centre stone of the redesign, and plans to raise revenue through a number of initiatives, including the launching of a debenture scheme.
"We are going there on Jan 8 expecting to come out with a piece of paper," he said. "I don't have to convince [the doubters] and I am not about to convince them. I will convince them by building it."
Donington's chances of getting the green light will be given an extra boost on Tuesday by neighbouring South Derbyshire District Council, who were brought in as consultants.
Mark Alflat, director of community services, says in a report to go before the authority's environmental committee: "The development offers substantial economic opportunities. The Grand Prix has the potential to attract both visitor spend and inward investment. New facilities, along with associated developments, will create substantial construction employment opportunities." "
Event NewsPosted by Kate Wed, November 05, 2008 16:14:51
It’s official, Download is to stay at Donington!
Ever since the first ever Monsters of Rock in 1980, Donington Park has been the spiritual home to pure and unadulterated heavy rock music. Download, it seems, has no interest in changing that rich history and that feeling still remains strong!
Download 2009 will take place over the weekend of 12, 13, 14 June 2009.
So if you don’t fancy roughing it, book your Download accommodation at DoningtonHospitality.com now! Click here.
Keep checking back for line-up announcements and updates….
Event NewsPosted by Kate Wed, November 05, 2008 15:49:59As excitement mounts in anticipation of the move of the British Grand Prix to the historic Donington Park circuit, what are the new World Champion Lewis Hamilton's views?
At a mere 23 years old, Lewis Hamilton wowed Formula One followers, in arguably his toughest race, to secure the 2009 GP title on the very last bend.
But what did the victorius McLaren driver have to say about Donington Park hosting the 2010 British race?
"Donington is a fantastic circuit, I've had some great memories there.... I'm sure if they can make it safe for us then it will be a great event" said Hamilton.
Donington Park will see the pinnacle of motor racing return to the iconic East Midlands circuit after a 17-year absence.
The venue last hosted F1 in 1993, when Ayrton Senna drove one of his greatest races to win the European Grand Prix.
"We wanted a world class venue for F1, something teams and fans could be proud of," said Bernie Ecclestone."Donington's development plans will give us exactly that, a venue to put British motorsport back on the map."
Donington Park can expect one of the most atmospheric, adrenaline pumping sporting experiences ever seen.
Track development newsPosted by Kate Wed, November 05, 2008 15:29:05Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd submitted plans for the first phase of the re-development of Donington Park with North West Leicestershire District Council in early September.
The Parkland circuit faces massive re-development in preparation for the British Formula One Grand Prix that will be staged at the circuit in 2010. An agreement was signed between Donington Park Leisure and the FIA in July to stage the British Grand Prix for ten years, starting in 2010.
"The submission of these plans heralds the start of a massive re-development project and a new era for Donington Park. It's an incredibly exciting time for everybody involved," explained the circuit's Chief Executive Officer Simon Gillett. "We are delighted with the plans and when the work is completed we will have a facility that will be the pride of World Championship motorsport."
The 2009 programme of major events at Donington including the British Motorcycle Grand Prix and the World Superbike Championship, and the Download music festival will be unaffected by the re-development.
View a copy of the draft master plan of the new Donington Park Circuit. Full plans submitted can be seen at http://www.nwleics.gov.uk/development_control/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=4539.
North West Leicestershire District Council are due to announce their decision on the planning applications in early November. Although indications show that the decision will be positive for Donington Park, although tight restrictions will be placed on noise and environment impact during the development timeframes.
Check back with Donington Hospitality for the latest news as it is received.
